Escape of the North! The Story of Harriet Tubman

     Escape of the North! The Story of Harriet Tubman written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Teresa Flavin is an inspiring historical fiction book to share with students.  This book is an autobiography of Harriet Tubman written by Monica Kullings that tells a story of how she help to free slaves.  Harriet Tubman was a "conductor on the Underground Railroad".  She was born a slave on a tobacco plantation. As a young child working in the fields, she promised herself that one day she would be free.  Around the age of twenty-eight, Harriet made her escape for freedom.  She made it to Philadelphia, which was a free state.  During the time there, she found out that "her sisters family had escaped and needed help to be lead to safety.  This is the time where Harriet became a conductor to help lead others to freedom.  Over the course of her life, Harriet has helped to free thousands of slaves.

     The illustrations in this book are colorful and neatly drawn.  There are a lot of detail and texture within the pictures.  The drawings accurately reflect the cultures presented within the book.  The pictures are colored in color pencil.  They help to assist in bring the story alive.

     According to page 257 in Literature and the Child, it gives examples of quality in historical fiction.

     
Historical Accuracy

-Events and attitudes are consistent with historical evidence and appropriate to the time period.

-Social issues are pot rayed honestly, without condoning racism and sexism.

Literary Quality

-The work meets the criteria of all good narratives.
-The setting is integral to the story and invokes a vivid historical time consistent with    historical and geographical evidence.
-Characters are well developed- with feelings, values, and behavior that reflects the historical period.
-The plot is based on authentic facts that are subordinate to the story itself.
-The theme echoes larger historical concerns.

      Escape of the North! The Story of Harriet Tubman adheres to all of the guidelines for a quality historical fiction book.

      Escape of the North!  The Story of Harriet Tubman was written for students in the second and third grade level.  I agree that this is an appropriate range for such readers.  This book is great for building fluency and introducing new vocabulary.  Also, Monica Kulling does an excellent job on presenting the history of Harriet Tubman.

     I enjoyed reading Escape of the North! The Story of Harriet Tubman.  I actually learned more about Harriet Tubman than I actually knew.  This is an easy to read story and the illustrations are complementing to the story.  I love all of the detail and color the illustrations have to offer.

Motivational Activities:

1. Have the student s discuss how they think Harriet Tubman felt as she was running away to escape from slavery.

2.  Before reading the story, ask the students what they know about the Underground Railroad.

Reader's Response Questions:
1.  Was there a train in the Underground Railroad?
2.  What was the purpose of the Underground Railroad?
3.  When the clouds covered the stars, how was Harriet able to tell which way was the North?  Explain.
4.  Who were the Quakers?
5.  How did the Quaker woman help Harriet Tubman?
6.  What did you find interesting from the story?  Explain.


References:

Galda, L., Cullinan, B.E., & Sipe, L.R. (2011).  Literature and the Child.  (7th ed., pp. 12, 24).  Belmont:  Wadsworth Pub Co. 

Kulling, Monica. (2000).  Escape of the North! The Story of Harriet Tubman.  New York:  Random House.